It might be too late for us to switch back to DM after doing a traditional Pre-Algebra program. And it is hard to break free from the mindset of Algebra 1 first, then Geometry, then Algebra 2. ;) Tough to wrap my brain around an integrated approach, though I know there is benefit. Perhaps with my younger children still using SM I will give DM a try. I wouldn't know which book to start in after using Abeka Pre-Alg.

Forget it. Saw that the new books are CCSS aligned. That is a HUGE turn-off for me. Way to go Singapore. You just ruined it.

Does DM ever get to geometrical proofs? Thanks for your review. I switched ds out of SM last year when he completed 6B and moved to a more traditional text (Abeka Pre-Algebra). I am contemplating next year's Algebra 1 course and now I am reconsidering DM. :) Thanks a lot! ;) LOL. But proofs are really important to me for geometry. Doesn't have to be proof-heavy (we've used MUS Geometry in the past for my older kids) but needs "some" proof practice.

Actually, he is very good at mental math. He will often write the answer to problems w/out showing work or using fingers.

Hmm…I have BCM…purchased for my older son before ditching it and moving to Abeka Pre-Algebra. ;) It might do the trick. I will have to re-visit that again. Thanks.

Wanted to put a plug in for North Star Geography by Tyler Hogan (Bright Ideas Press). Alison linked it above. I know Tyler and his family personally and I can't wait to get my hands on this book! It will def. be awesome. As for breaking from history, we are doing this with my 8th grader. His older brother will be using HODs World Geography Guide and I'm going to have him tag along using the Mapping the World with Art program by Ellen McHenry and also focusing more on Bible (specifically OT). He needs to catch up in some skill areas (ok, all skill areas :/ ) and so history would be pointless for him. I'm hoping to get a glimpse of the North Star Geography Book when I see Tyler and his family at the end of June. If I do, I will certainly post a review. :) If the reading level is on target for my 8th grader, I might use it to supplement the Mapping the World With Art. Not sure.

I'm not so certain repetition is what he needs. He seems to catch on to some concepts quickly but lacks the motivation to stick with any topic that is too "hard" or that he doesn't get right away. A friend has TT6 so I might try that and go from there, supplementing with either Key To or MM Blue. Thanks!

My 13yo is behind. I hate that word but it is true. If you have been around these parts for longer than a few years, you have heard me go on and on about this child's challenges and my frustrations. He has emotional issues (was diagnosed years ago with Mood Disorder - NOS…so basically…"we know something is wrong but can't quite put our finger on what" sort of diagnosis". He is bright. But he is lazy and pencil/book phobic. We fight EVERY BLESSED DAY to get just the basics done. So, he is in SM 5A at the moment, going in to the 8th grade. :banghead: I have pinpointed where he most struggles with math and we are working toward solidifying those concepts. He does not have a good solid grasp of his multiplication facts. We're drilling daily. That effects his ability to divide easily. Working on that next. These 2 weak areas effect his ability to comprehend fractions, simplifying, finding common denominators, etc. That will be next. That, in turn, effects his ability to understand decimals, lol. Now, b/c he LOVES $$, we have been able to go further with decimals than with fractions. ;) So here is my question/s: How would you go about remediating this child? We will be working through the summer. I have thought about using Math Mammoth worksheets for trouble areas and have also thought about using the Key to series (Measurement, fractions, decimals, percents, etc.). We are switching to CLE b/c I think he needs more of a review than SM gives him. Anyway, could anyone offer any more advice or options besides those I listed? Thanks! And please no judgement (not that I would find that here)…I really am doing the best I can with this child. :/

SM CWP can be quite, um, challenging, lol! ;) When we first started using SM, I would look at the word problems and look at my child and say, "I know how to solve this using Algebra, but that isn't going to do you much good now!". LOL. I eventually got used to using the bar diagrams and could help them solve the problems using them. Now, I look at word problems much differently. In any case, I think I might add in some CWP when we switch to CLE in a few weeks since my kids have already been exposed, at least a little, to the SM method of solving them. :)

Bumping for you. I am switching my boys to CLE Math and plan to add in some SM CWP b/c it doesn't look as if CLE's word problems are as involved as SM. Hoping somebody might chime in. :)

Jumping back in to the conversation…and I totally don't mind the hijacking b/c I'm learning a lot. ;) I did the placement test with my 3rd, 5th and 7th graders. 7th grader is not finished yet. 3rd grader would start in level 300…which I expected. However, she does well with Singapore and so I likely will not switch until she is finished her next workbook. :/ 5th grader struggled through even level 200 (some concepts that Singapore didn't cover well) but did "pass". I took note of the concepts he struggled with (mainly geometry concepts that SM did not cover). He would start in Level 300 and that makes me cry. He's entering 6th grade. :'( I think we can probably accelerate through, but it still makes me cry. 7th grader is still testing. He will likely have to start way back in 400…I'm not feeling very good right now. I feel like a failure. But I think switching will be good for them. And starting back will build confidence in areas where they are weak. But I still feel like a failure….

Critterfixer, are you in PA? We have to test, too (I am in PA). 3rd, 5th and 8th. And it causes me great stress with my boys who are "behind". PA causes me great stress. All the rules and regulations for homeschoolers actually CRIPPLE us. They think the rules and regulations and oversight are necessary and good but they actually cause quite the opposite effect they are trying to achieve. Putting our children into cute, little boxes…telling them what they "should" know at certain ages like they are some robot or something. But I digress…PA can't tell me to stop homeschooling simply b/c my children do not do well on a standardized "robot" test. So I have given up worrying about that and I will teach my children where they are. My 5th grader is FRUSTRATED b/c he just doesn't pick things up as easily as, say, his younger sister. He struggles. But he progresses. And that is ALL the law requires of him in PA…no matter what my school district might think. Period. We are taking the placement test for CLE now. He is struggling. Question 1-3…clocks…we spent days on reading a clock and he STILL DOESN'T GET IT!!!!! He shuts down. So we move on. The other concepts he gets. Anyway, I figured out that we CANNOT move forward with higher math if he struggles with the basics. My ds16 who is in Algebra never memorized his facts so that he knew them down cold and the higher math frustrates him b/c it takes a long time to do it when you are stuck on a simply 9 * 8 or how to factor 63, kwim? I hope CLE works out for you…I pray it works out for us. Now to figure out what to do with my 6yo who is bordering on gifted…(I have all extremes here, lol).

I can't decide between Saxon and CLE. I have used Saxon. I know Saxon. I know that it is solid. But I keep looking over at CLE and really liking it. Trouble is? I love Singapore. LOL. I wish I had been taught using Singapore b/c it just makes sense to me. But…my kids are different. I have a Saxon 6/5 that my 5th grader could use. But he loathes the textbook format. Idk…CLE is pretty cheap considering. I have Singapore Challenging Word problems and I have all the Saxon drills saved from when dd used Saxon. I could always just do CLE and drill using Saxon drills and use some CWP.

Singapore worked for my "mathy" kid. He got through 6A, moved into Abeka Pre-Algebra and is doing well. My 2 boys behind him are not doing well with Singapore at all. And I am frustrated. They are behind and I feel like I'm trying to shove a square peg into a round hold and wondering why it's not working. :( Both just don't seem to have a firm grasp on the basics…multiplication facts, division facts, or a true understanding of most concepts. Word problems kill them. So…I looked at Saxon again. I used it with my oldest and she did well until Algebra and we switched to Lial's. But my 5th grader still struggles to read and the textbook aspect of it intimidates him. He needs a workbook. Ds13 does, too. I'm looking at CLE. In fact, I'm looking at CLE for all my younger kids now. I really like what I see. I was hoping for some reviews and some ideas of how to speed through levels and "catch up" b/c I KNOW my boys will place into Level 3 or below at this point. :( Bad Mommy…I know. Any advice or reviews would be appreciated. Thanks.

I totally forgot about VHSG!!! Hmm….now do I really want to re-visit Saxon Algebra 1? lol My daughter used it and got halfway through before we realized she just wasn't getting it and had to switch to Lials. Hmmm….decisions, decisions…Thanks chiguirre!

Lori, Derek and Chris…you all make very good points. I can totally see this child "faking" his way through even if he doesn't "get it". My oldest used Jann in TX's Alg. 2 class and it was awesome. Jann is awesome. :) I simply can't afford it this year for ds14. As I said, I am capable of teaching Alg. 1…I am a math person…it is one of my strongest subjects. Ds would not be totally independent. We would still meet each day. I was just hoping for something video-based so I wouldn't have to do the actual teaching, kwim? I can see MUS being "easy" once a student has done Abeka Pre-Alg. I am thinking I will just stick with Lial's and try and schedule my time better so I can teach him. I will also look into TabletClass…thanks! Derek or iammommy could you give a review of Tablet Class? Why did you like it? How is is structured? Is it thorough enough for a kid who just might go on to a STEM field? Similar to a more traditional Algebra course or no? That might be what I am looking for. Thanks!

Hmmm…thanks for all the reviews/advice everyone! So, BBR is awesome but more for middle and lower? I have a 6th and 8th grader who could benefit from that then. Is it complete enough on its own as a writing program or will we need something different? My 9th grader will be using HOD's World Geography Guide next year and BJU Lit and EIW is scheduled already so I might just use that for him. The 11th grader is using MFW WHL…and there is writing in there and Lit…but idk…I think he needs something more…more hand-holding? Idk…I am feeling the pressure as his high school years are coming to an end, kwim? I will check out IEW's ACS. Is that Speech? B/c our co-op is using IEW's Speech next year for high school. :/

I am looking into Algebra programs for my rising 9th grader. He will have complete Abeka's Pre-Algebra program which I believe is very thorough and actually covers a lot of early Algebra topics. He does not struggle with math but I wouldn't consider him "strong" in math either. Average? My 10th grader is just now finishing Lials Introductory Algebra, which I like. He is not a strong math student and it took us 2 years to get through it. *I* am strong in math and can teach it…but I am spread so thin already with 6 to teach. :/ I need something that my 9th grader can do independently but will also give him a thorough foundation in Algebra. Any reviews of MUS Algebra? Thanks.

I am looking to drop Rod and Staff English (I really WANT to like it but I do not. And neither do my kids) and use Analytical Grammar (and JAG for my younger ones). I haven't nailed down a writing program yet but saw the Beyond The Book Report on the website and it looks awesome. Could somebody review this for me? Is it thorough? Is it really middle school level or could a 9th grader who has had little formal writing use it as well? How about a 10th grader? Thanks!

Just hopping on to let you know that you are never out of my thoughts. Loving and hugging you from afar, praying that the God of all comfort is somehow, some way giving you the strength and the peace and the grace to keep moving forward. Day by day, minute by minute and sometimes second by second grace...

Only 2 Mother's Days it was truly, almost, about me was in 2001 when my 4th child was born ON Mother's Day and again in 2008 when my 7th child was born ON Mother's Day. And I'm ok with that. ;) This year, child #7 celebrates his 6th birthday on Mother's Day and child #4 celebrates his 13th on Tuesday. I will get out of choosing what to do and how to celebrate by putting the focus on them. I like it that way. :) As for my Mom, well, typically we visit her and my Dad on Mother's Day but I don't have the emotional energy to do that this year. So…I think we are spending Mother's Day in church and then in the Lego Store and hopefully I'll get some Coldstone out of the deal. :)

Can't stop thinking about you, Rosie. My heart hurts. I'm grieving with you and for you. I wish that somehow I could take on all of your pain, all of your grief and that my shed tears would somehow ease the devastation you are feeling. Mostly, I just want to wake up and find out this was all one big nightmare. :grouphug: my friend. Lots and lots of :grouphug: and many, many prayers. You are loved.

My heart is broken. Oh Rosie I wish I could be there in person to give you a hug and offer my shoulder to cry on. I am so sorry. Words just don't seem to be enough... Please know you are loved. How can we help? We love you!!!

I have been poring over possible curriculum/programs/topics for my 6th and 8th Grader next year. I found Foundations Press material and am in love. :) I want to use that as the "spine" but was curious about adding SWBs The History of the Ancient World for my 8th grader. Could an average 8th grader (reading ability that is) use this book successfully? I read through some samples and it is very good! I "think" he could do it, but wanted to get an idea from somebody who has used it with a middle school aged child. Thanks!

I commented on your post in the High School group but I also wanted to recommend the Foundations Press curriculum. I have Foundations Bible 1-3 and they are fabulous! I plan to use Foundations 1 along with the Foundations World History 1 with my 6th and 8th graders next year (possibly my 4th grader as well).